Importing your EVO to the United States

Every car we build starts as a 190E that left the factory in 1993 or earlier. That single fact removes the hardest part of importing a European car into the United States. What is left is paperwork and logistics, and we have done that part before.

Can a Mercedes-Benz 190E be imported into the United States?

Yes. US federal law exempts a motor vehicle from Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards once it is twenty five years or older, counted from the month it was built. The 190E body shell, the W201, was built between 1982 and 1993, so every donor Wahnsinn Wagens works with is past that mark. No registered importer has to be involved.

What paperwork is filed when the car arrives in the United States?

Two federal declarations travel with the car: DOT form HS-7 for safety and EPA form 3520-1 for emissions. Both are filed alongside the customs entry by a licensed customs broker at the port of arrival, together with the bill of lading, the invoice and the Dutch export documents.

Does the EUR 140,000 price include US duty and shipping?

No. US import duty is charged as a percentage of the declared value with customs processing fees on top, and rates move with trade policy, so a customs broker quotes the current rate. A car exported outside the EU is invoiced without Dutch VAT once the export is documented, so for a US buyer EUR 140,000 is the price of the car itself.

How the car travels

The car ships from Rotterdam or Antwerp in an enclosed container, strapped down and sealed until it is unloaded. Crossing to a US east coast port takes a few weeks door to port, plus clearance and inland transport. The car is insured at its agreed value for the whole journey.

This page is a plain language summary. It is not legal, customs or tax advice.